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Source: Times of India
Relevance: Delhi is one of the most polluted cities in India. Controlling pollution in Delhi will result in less pollution in surrounding regions as well.
Synopsis:
All new large construction sites in Delhi may soon have to install at least three real-time air quality monitoring stations and adhere to strict dust management norms.
Background:
- Construction and road dust contribute to somewhere between 15% and 40% of PM 2.5 and PM10 emissions in Delhi.
- In order to curb this problem, a Dust Management Committee has submitted a dust management plan to the Delhi government.
- The committee comprises experts from IIT Delhi, The Energy and Resources Institute (Teri), and the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC).
- It gave recommendations by drawing inspiration from dust management models of London and Paris.
- Based on its recommendations, new dust management rules are about to get approved by the government.
About the New Rules:
- It will apply to all construction sites with an area of more than 20,000 square meters.
- The sites are required to obtain an environmental clearance and submit a fixed bank guarantee before starting their work.
- While applying for the environmental clearance, each construction site will have to specify the exact location of the three air quality monitoring stations installed at the site.
- A large display board showing the readings will also have to be put up at the site, with the data being relayed to a DPCC control room.
- It allows the issuance of warnings if the PM10 and PM2.5 levels at the site are more than 25% of the air quality readings at the nearest monitoring station.
- A “cure period” of three hours will be given to take corrective measures after the first warning.
- After 3 hours, a notice will be sent to the project proponent and a fine of either Rs 1 lakh, or 10% of the bank guarantee, will be invoked.
- If after 12 hours of the first warning, the situation does not improve, then a fine of Rs 3 lakh or 20% of the bank guarantee, whichever is higher, will be imposed.
- If after 24 hours of the first warning, no corrective action is taken, the site will be shut down.
